The Customs Union of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus will start working in 2010, the President of Russian Union of Industrialists and Enterpreneurs (RSPP), Alexander Shokhin, stated during the EurAsEC (Eurasian Economic Community) Business Forum “Investment, Innovation and Integration” in Moscow.

He noted that this should not be just another attempt to creation of such a union, but that it must be coordinated with the movement towards participation in the World Trade Organisation.

It is important that the Customs Union removes barriers in customs and trade, and reduces tension caused by the crisis. The Council took a decision to create an anti-crisis fund to help EurAsEC national economies overcome the negative consequences of the crisis.

The Vice-President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Georgy Petrov, noted that the first good example of real customs union was The European Union. It showed its effectiveness in crisis conditions, because its existence made it possible to reduce the consequences of the crisis in Europe; much better than in the USA. Among necessary steps to be taken Georgy Petrov mentioned the creation of a single EurAsEC tariff and calculation network, the protection of intellectual property and a civilized resolution of questions about labor migration.

The Head of Metropol Group, Mikhail Slepenchuk, spoke in favor of creating the EurAsEC single financial centre in Moscow, because there was an 8 hour time difference between Tokyo, Moscow and London, and thus “money can be used several times,” noted Mr.Slipenchuk.

News source: RZD-PARTNER